Core lifter



L. H. WELLENSIEK CORE LIFTER Feb. 3, 1931.

Filed Dec. 1'7, 1928 L H. VVELLENS'IEK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ny a INVENTOR' BY 1 M ATTORNEY Feb; 3, 1-931. L. H. WELLENSIEK CORE LIFTER Filed Dec. 17. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 L. H. I'VELLENSIBK IN VE N TOR ATTORNEY I Patented Feb. 3, 1931 UNlTED STATESPPATENT oFl-ucr.

LOUIS H. WEI JLENSIEK, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO HUGHES TOOL COMPANY,

' '01! HOUSTON, TEXAS, GORPORATION OF TEXAS cone LrerEn Application filed December 17, 1928. Serial No. 326,645.

This invention relates to devices for engaging and lifting cores cut by core drills in the drilling of deep wells for oil,'water, sulphur and the like.

5 There is a common difliculty in core drilling that the core cannot be properly engaged in the core barrel, so that it may be withdrawn when the drill is raised from the well.

The core may be broken up in pieces, or may beof soft material, so that it will drop out usual core catchers will not catch the core,

with the result that the core will be lost out I desire to provide a core engaging device which will contract within the core barrel to engage and hold the core as soon as the weight of the drill stem is raised from the bit, but which will be held out of theway when drilling is going on.

1 is a central longitudinal section through a core barrel attachment in which my invenpii on is shown, taken on the plane 1-1 of Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the plane 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the plane 3-3. of Fig. 4. Y

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the plane 4-4: of Fig. 3. a Fig. 5 isa transverse section on the plane 55 of Fig. 1. Y

Fig. 6 is a similar section on the plane 66 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a detail of one of the core engaging members removed from the device.

In carryin out my invention, I provide a separate tubu ar joint or nipple shown in the drawing which is intended for connection in the drill stem adjacent the drill. This nipple includes a lower drill engaging section 1, the lower end 2 of which is threaded for engagement with the core drill; and an upper section 3, formed with a threaded socket 4; to.

engage with a drill collar, The two sections of the barrel as the drill is raised and the Referring to the drawings herewith, Fig.-

1 and 3, interfit at their meeting ends,the section 3 telescoping within section 1, there being a shoulder 5 on the upper section against which the'upper end of the lower section abuts and a shoulder 6 on the lower'section to contact with the lower end of the section 3.

The two sections are relatively rotatable for a limited distance. The limiting means include three radial lugs 7-on the part 3 adapted to engage inwardly projecting stop members- 8 upon the lower section 1. The

outer section 1 has an annular groove 9 on its inner surface, said groove being interrupted at three points by the said stop members 8. Said'stop members are formed by plugs inserted throughv the wall of the section and welded at the upper and lower sides at 19.

Said stop members are cut away on one side- 10 to receive the lugs 7. The lugs 7 on the inner section 3 extend outwardly 1nto said groove and hear at their outer ends against the inner wall of the groove. They are lim ited in their movement in said grove by sald stop members, said lugs are held in place by the sleeve 18, later described.

Water circulation longitudinally of the device is provided by channels 12 in the upper section connecting with the annular chamber 13 formed in the meeting walls of said sections below the upper end of-said lower section. From this chamber channels 14 in section 1 discharge the fluid at the lower end of the joint.

The core engaging means comprises two or more interfitting spring members 15 shown in Fig; 7. Each member is a-plate of resilient metal of approximately 2 shape, but curved transversely. The upper and lower ends are each provided with a longitudinal bead 16, to fit within a groove 17 in the inner wall of the joint.

As seen fromFigs. 1 and 2, the core lifter is placed adjacent the lower end of the device and extends equally in opposite directions from the shoulder 6 where the relatively rotatable sections meet. One bead 16-of each plate 15-i's inserted into the groove 17 on the lower end of section 1 and the other end of said plate. is. inserted within the groove 17 in theinner wall of the upper section 3 so that when one section of the joint is rotated relative to the other, a strain may be placed upon said plates. The plates overlap at their ends as seen from the drawing, and when said plates are inserted in position, they exert a tension upon the joint tending to force the lower section to the left. bringing the'lu'gs 7 against the rearward sides of the stop members 8 as seenin Fig. 2 and thus contracting the spring plates relative to each other and closing inwardly about the central passage through the nipple as seen in Figs. 2 and 5. When rotation in a right hand direction of the upper section 3 is given, relative to the lower section, the spring plates are sprung into the position shown in Fig. 6, closely against the inner wall of the passage.

Above the core catcher, there is an inner sleeve 18 which serves the purpose of holding the lugs 7' in position projecting from their seats in the section 1. It permits easy disassembly of the device. For, when the sleeve is removed, the lugs may be withdrawn from the groove and the two sections may be taken apart.

In use, the core bit is secured below the nipple and the core barrel is secured within the threaded seat 20 in the upper section 3.

The drill stem or collar is then connected at 4 and the device is lowered tothe bottom of the well. I

The rotation of the drill in the usual right hand direction will force the spring plates 15 into the Fig. 6 position while thehole is being drilled. The core may extend upwardly into the core barrel, as the drill advances. When suificient hole has'been drilled, the rotation of the drill will be stopped and the drill will be raised from the bottom allowing the drill to hang freely in the hole. The spring plates 15 will then tend to coil up to their normal size and will rotate the drill head in advance of the upper section 3 to allow the core catcher to move into the.

positionshown in Figs. 2 and 5. The lugs 7 will be projected against the rearward sides of the stop members, and the plates 15 will contract and hug the core tightly. so that the core may be broken 0d and carried to the surface.

. While the drilling is proceeding the flushmg fluid will be fed to the drill through the channels 12 and 14 as will be obvious.

The core lifter thus formed will have the advantage that it will be out of the way while drilling is going on and will not tend to'break up or score the core. When the drill is to be withdrawn, the core lifter will engage the core memes ing upper and lower relatively rotatable sections, a plurality of over-lapping spring plates secured at one end to the upper sections, andat the other end to the lower section, said plates adapted to be expanded against the inner surface of said nipple when said upper section is rotated relative to the lower section.

2. A core catcher including a nipple having upper and lower relatively rotatable sections, a'plurality of over-lapping spring plates secured at one end to the upper section, and at the other end to the lower section, said plates adapted to be expanded against the inner surface of said nipplewhen said upper section is rotated relative to the lower section, and to contract away from said surface when said lower section is allowed to move relative to said upper section.

3. A core catcher including a nipple having upper and lower relatively rotata le sections, a plurality of over-lapping spring plates secured at one end to the upper section, and

at the other end to the lower section, said plates adapted to be expanded against the inner surface of said nipple, when said upper section is rotated relative to the lower section, and means to limit the amount of rotation of one section relative to the other.

4. A core catcher including a nipple having upper and lower relatively rotatable sections, a plurality of over-lapping spring plates secured at one end to the upper section, and at the other end to the lower section, said plates adapted to be expanded against the inner surface of said nipple, when said upper section is rotated relative to the lower section, and means to limit the amount of rotation of one section relative to the other, said limiting means serving also to prevent relative longitudinal movement of said section.

5. A core catcher for use with core drills comprising a nipple having upper and lower sections, said lower section being formed for attachment to said core drill, said sections being relatively rotatable, and core engaging means including an approximately spirally shaped spring plate, said means being expanded by the rotation of the upper end thereof relative to thelower end when said.

comprising a spirally arranged spring plate,

said plate being mounted to be expanded out of the way of the core while said core drill is rotated for drilling, but adapted to contract spirally to engage a core when said drill is suspended freely.

7 core catcher for use with a core drill comprising a spirally arranged spring plate, said platebeing mounted upon two relatively rotatable parts, and thus arranged to be expanded out of the way of the core while said core drill is rotated for drilling, but adapted to contract to engage a core when said drill -is sus ended freely the upper and lower lateral e ges being in diflerent horizontal planes, whereby they will not abut each other when said plate is contracted.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature, this 14th day of Dec., A. D. 1928.

LOUIS H. WELLENSIEK. 

